Building Redevelopment | Morley Memorial Primary School

OCTOBER 2018

I am delighted to say that building works have now been completed and we are all enjoying our great new space.

JULY 2018

Work on the new classrooms is almost complete and in September we will be welcoming KS2 children back to school with bright and airy new classrooms. New chairs and tables are on their way and we are excited about how our new facilities are progressing. With the new extension complete there will be further work taking place over the summer holidays to refurbish the library and Year 3 classrooms as well as creating a great new Early Years area.

MARCH 2018

Work has been completed on Phase 1 and the we have been handed our new activity hall extension. It looks amazing and will provide a great new home for our Spectrum After School Club.

OCTOBER 2017

I am delighted to say the development of the North East corner of the playground is running to schedule and we are hoping ground works will be completed by 27th October and we will once again have access to this space. The area is a mixture of real and artificial turf which means the children will have year round access. It’s already looking amazing!

Works on the main buildings will begin 16th October. From this date there will be NO ACCESS to the playground from the front of the building at anytime. Pupils in Y4-6 will still come into school via the KS2 entrance as normal.

Pupils in Years 1, 2 and 3 will enter the building via the playground outside of Year 3 classes. There will be a member of staff on duty in this area at 8.40 and teachers will collect children from the playground at 8.55am and escort them to their classroom. This means that children will be in the playground area until the teacher collects them at 8.55am. Unless you need to drop off at 8.40 we would suggest a slightly later arrival for Y1-3 may be beneficial especially during the colder weather as it will save them spending too long outside unnecessarily. End of day pick up will also be from the front playground for these year groups. Your co-operation is appreciated.

SEPTEMBER 2017

Work has now begun on the playground redevelopment. We estimate that it will take approximately 8 weeks to complete the first phase of the delivery of our new playground. There is significant work to be done in levelling the area and laying drainage before the new all weather surfaces can be laid. Whilst this work is underway we need to maintain a safe environment for play and access to the building. Fencing has been erected to separate areas under construction. This means that during this period we will have less capacity for bike storage. A limited number of bike hoops have been moved to the Early Years base for use by all pupils but for those children who can walk or scoot instead of cycle we request that you do so.

MARCH 2017

I am delighted to announce that Cambridgeshire Planning Committee have approved the school plans for redevelopment. This means that we can now move forward in upgrading the buildings and premises as well as begin the improvements to the playground. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the development of the plans especially to governors, past and present, who have helped make this happen.

FEBRUARY 2017

We were hoping to have been able to give you an update on the planned school redevelopment but unfortunately we have now been advised that this is more likely to be by the end of next term. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the local authority remain committed, and able, to provide the funds needed to deliver the upgrade to premises that this building so desperately needs. If you would like to comment on, or show your support for the current application there is still time to do so on the planning portal—planning reference C/5008/16/CC.

DECEMBER 2016

We had hoped to be able to give you news on the outcome of the planning application by the end of the Autumn term. Unfortunately we have been advised that this is now likely to be by the end of January. We will of course keep you up-dated.

NOVEMBER 2016 UPDATE

At the beginning of September 2016, the head reported in the weekly newsletter that plans for the building redevelopment had been submitted to the planning authority and that the school hoped to hear back from the local authority and planning committee soon.

A request has recently been made for additional information about the planning process to be published on the school website. The head and governing body hope this additional information will be enable parents and the public to better understand the planning process and how plans can be viewed and commented upon.

Which planning authority have the plans been submitted to?

· The planning authority is Cambridgeshire County Council and the planning application is a Regular 3 application. A Regular 3 application allows the council to be the planning authority for the county councils own development in schools.

Does the planning application have a reference number?

· Yes, the planning application reference number is: C/5008/16/CC.

Where can I see the planning application?

· All planning applications are available to view on the planning authorities website. To view a planning application follow the link below and use the planning application reference number C/5008/16/CC

· http://planning.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/swift/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display

How can I comment on the plans?

· To comment on the planning application, view the planning application on the planning authorities website as described above. The webpage will allow you to comment on the planning application.

· The link below gives additional information about how to comment on planning applications

· http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20099/planning_and_development/234/planning

Where else can I see the plans for proposed re-development?

· The plans continue to be available to view in Morley’s community room. Please contact the office if you would like to view them.

Where can I find out more about the proposed re-development?

· Information about the planned redevelopment continues to be available on the school website. Scroll down the page for more information.

When will parents hear more about the planning application?

· At present there are no further developments to report apart from the notification that the planning application has been submitted which was in the newsletter of 9^th Sept 2016. Once the school hears back from the planning authority, the head and governors will inform parents of the outcome.

NOVEMBER 2015 UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who submitted feedback on the proposed redevelopment at the consultation evenings in the summer term. The local authority have collated the forms and a summary is available here.

Summary of consultation responses.

JULY 2015 UPDATE (3)

We have received a number of requests for information about the building redevelopment process from members of the public. In the spirit of openness and transparency, the Governing Body has decided to upload relevant documents to this page. We believe it is important that parents and other stakeholders are able to view these documents.

Since September 2014 all minutes of the Full Governing Body, Resources and Learning Committee meetings have been uploaded to the website, and are available here.

Finance Committee 31 January 2012
Full Governing Body 9 July 2012
Facilities Committee 17 October 2012
Full Governing Body 3 December 2012
Finance Committee 13 January 2013
Facilities Committee 23 January 2013
Full Governing Body 4 February 2013
Full Governing Body 18 March 2013
Full Governing Body 8 July 2013
Finance Committee 15 October 2013
Resources Committee 21 October 2013
Resources Committee 3 December 2013
Resources Committee 11 February 2014
Resources Committee 25 March 2014
Resources Committee 6 May 2014
Full Governing Body 14 July 2014

‘Miracle day’ consultation with pupils, Summer 2013
Redevelopment briefing paper for Resources Committee October 2013
Meeting the needs of all children, October 2014

July 2015 update (2)

Thank you to everyone who attended the open event on 29th June to discuss plans for improvement and development of our school building and facilities. The proposed redevelopment plans are available to view below. Alternatively you can view them in the school office. Should you wish to give feedback on the proposed plans, please complete this form and return it to the school office. You can also read the latest redevelopment newsletter (issue 3).

Consultation remit
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
Option 5
Preferred option strategy plan
Ariel and exterior views
Proposed elevations
Proposed floor plans
Classroom and hall expansions before and after
Landscape proposals
Contractor logistics strategy

JULY 2015 UPDATE

We are pleased to announce that a public consultation meeting regarding the proposed extension and school improvement works will take place on Monday 29th June from 3pm to 8.30pm in the school hall. You are welcome to drop in, view and comment upon plans and speak to representatives from the school, local authority and design team about the proposed works.

Further information.

JULY 2014 UPDATE

As we come to the end of term, we wanted to give you an update on the plans to re-develop and improve the school buildings to make them fit for the 21st Century.

You’ll recall that we wrote to all parents on 12 February to let you know that the school was working with Cambridgeshire County Council on proposals for a multi-million pound investment in redevelopment and improvement works to the school building.

In summary, the plans would see early years classes moving into the main school building; substantial improvements, repairs and redecoration to many parts of the school; internal remodelling to give us better non-classroom spaces; and a purpose built facility for our breakfast and after school clubs.

At the time we circulated a short paper explaining what is happening and why. An updated version of that paper is attached.

We held an open evening on 26 February to share the plans and they were available to view in the playground and school hall on 27 and 28 February. We had useful feedback from those sessions, with lots of support for the proposals and some concerns about the loss of outdoor space and the future of the early years building.

The local authority planning process has now started with a public consultation held at the school on 23 June and the latest plans are available to view in the school office. The County Council will be submitting a formal planning application in the near future.

One of our main priorities has been to develop proposals for making much better use of the outdoor space available to the school. While some loss of outdoor space is inevitable as part of the redevelopment and improvement works, we know that there is much more we could do to make the existing space more accessible and valuable to children at the school all year round.

We held an extensive consultation with pupils and teachers, and we have been working with experts in outdoor play and learning spaces to develop a set of proposals that we hope to share more widely in the autumn. This has taken longer than planned due to the need to get more technical advice on issues like drainage.

We’re confident that the combination of the creation of a MUGA (multi-use games area) on the site of the tennis court, a dedicated playground that will allow both early years classes to enjoy the outdoors and a redesign of the main school outdoor spaces will lead to enhanced provision for all children at the school.

The Council hasn’t yet made an announcement on its plans for the early years site and we know that is a particular concern for parents who live near the school. We understand that one of the options is that – with appropriate investment – it could be turned into a nursery and that would address an important need in the area.

We remain committed to engaging parents in the redevelopment and improvement works to the school and plans for the outdoor space. We know from the parent survey that the vast majority of parents think we’re getting it right so far and we appreciate that feedback.

Details of how you can get involved are included in the attached note.

Yours

Mr Michael Catchpool (Headteacher) and Ms Nicky Odgers (Chair of Governors)

BRIEFING ON PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT WORKS – JULY 2014

What is happening?

The school is working with Cambridgeshire County Council on proposals to undertake redevelopment and improvement works to the school building to make it fit for the 21st Century.

The proposed works include:

• Building three new classrooms on the main site that will enable Early Years’ classes (Gold and Silver) to move into the main school premises, with a dedicated entrance, cloakroom, toilets and secure outside play area.
• Substantial improvements, repairs and redecoration to parts of the existing school building, including new windows, children’s, staff and accessible toilets and replacement of the boiler.
• Remodelling internal space of the main school building to provide appropriate non-classroom learning spaces and improved circulation and access around the school.
• A purpose built flexible space for breakfast and after school clubs, with associated toilets, kitchen and storage. A new full height moveable screen will allow the space to be used in conjunction with the main hall for assemblies and performances.
• A multi-media resource area and larger pupil specialist teaching space for food technology.

In total this represents a multi-million pound direct investment in the school, funded by the County Council. In addition, the school is developing proposals to dramatically improve the outdoor space on the main school site and to create a MUGA (multi-use games area) on the site of the current tennis court in early years.

A version of this briefing was first shared with parents on 12 February 2014, we held a briefing for the Friends of Morley on 18 February and the school held an open evening on 26 February to share the plans, which were also available to view in the playground and school hall on 27 and 28 February.

The council’s plans currently have the proposed redevelopment starting in 2017. The local authority planning process has now started with a public consultation held at the school on 23 June and the latest plans are available to view in the school office. The County Council will be submitting a formal planning application in the near future.

Why is this important for the school?

The school has clear goals for the next four years:

• A creative curriculum that stretches and rewards all learners
• Brilliant teaching and facilities that provide the support and challenge that is appropriate for all learners
• Engaging all parents in their children’s learning and the wider community in the life of the school
• Helping all children at Morley develop the social skills they need to thrive

While there is a lot to love about our current buildings and facilities, they make it hard or impossible for us to achieve those goals and we need significant investment to bring them up to even a minimum acceptable standard. In particular:

• The current Early Years’ building makes it impossible for us to deliver the required curriculum because of the limited access that Gold class (upstairs) has to outdoor space, the generally poor access and internal structure and layout.
• Having the Early Years’ classes on a different site means that we have the challenge (and lost time) of moving 60 children across the road several times a day. It also means that the children and teaching staff aren’t as involved in the wider life of the school as they should be and don’t benefit from the other facilities.
• While we make the best use of the facilities we have on the main school site, the non-classroom spaces are poorly designed and there isn’t enough space for the one-to-one coaching and creativity that are central to our vision of learning.
• We lack the resources to invest in the basic fabric of the school building, for example the boiler, toilets and windows, all of which we know need replacement. Running two separate buildings also costs the school more.
• Our breakfast and after school clubs are an important part of the school and we want to be able to offer more and better support to working parents. The lack of a purpose built space limits our ability to do this.

Morley Memorial wouldn’t ordinarily meet the council’s criteria for capital investment and we don’t have our own resources to invest. The proposed plans are only possible because the council would be able to repurpose the early years building.

What are the plans for the main school site?

The proposals include:

• Building three new classrooms on the main site that will enable Early Years’ classes (Gold and Silver) to move into the main school premises, with a dedicated entrance, cloakroom, toilet and secure outside play area.
• Substantial improvements, repairs and redecoration to parts of the existing school building, including new windows, children’s, staff and accessible toilets and replacement of the boiler.
• Remodelling internal space of the main school building to provide appropriate non-classroom learning spaces and improved circulation and better access around the school.
• A purpose built flexible space for breakfast and after school clubs, with associated toilets, kitchen and storage. A new full height moveable screen will allow the space to be used in conjunction with the main hall for assemblies and performances.
• A multi-media resource area and larger pupil specialist teaching space for food technology.

What are the plans for the current early years building?

The school would no longer use the early years building and the council is in the process of deciding how best to repurpose it. We understand that one of the options under consideration is for the building to be used as a nursery, although nothing has been decided yet.

We know that what happens to the current early years building is one of the most important issues for parents, particularly those that live near to the school.

What will happen to the outdoor space?

The school’s outdoor space is really important, as well as being somewhere for the children to play and have fun it should provide opportunities for learning, creativity and physical activity. We also know that the loss of outdoor space is a concern to many parents and we are taking that very seriously.

For the main school site we are developing ambitious plans to redesign the whole outdoor space so that it supports learning and play for all children. It’s important that we do this in advance of the proposed redevelopment works, but it isn’t included in what the council will fund and we need to raise money ourselves through grants and donations.

We are also planning to redevelop the existing tennis court in early years to provide a MUGA (multi-use games area) which will open many more opportunities for sports within and outside the school day. We are still discussing with the council the potential for the school to retain access to some of the outdoor space around the early years building.

While some loss of outdoor space is inevitable as part of the redevelopment and improvement works, we know that there is much more we could do to make the existing space more accessible and valuable to children at the school all year round. As currently configured, much of the outdoor space in early years and on the main school site is not used by children for a significant part of the school year.

We’re confident that the combination of the creation of a MUGA (multi-use games area) on the site of the tennis court, a dedicated playground that is available to both early years classes and a redesign of the main school outdoor spaces will lead to enhanced provision for all children at the school.

When will this happen and how will it impact on the school?

We haven’t yet finalised a timetable for the proposed redevelopment of the school building or the improvements to the outdoor space. The council’s plans currently have the proposed redevelopment starting in 2017. However, they have already started the planning process and it may be possible for them to start sooner.

Given the ongoing challenges with the current building and facilities, we want to see the works start as soon as possible.

One of our main concerns is ensuring that the school can continue to be a great place for children and staff during any building works. We are not proposing to decant the school to another site. It is inevitable that there will be some disruption and we are working with the council to ensure that as much as possible happens outside of term time and that the sequence of works is managed to minimise the impact on the life of the school.

How can I get involved?

Keep in touch. As the proposals move forward, we’ll provide information through the school’s website and newsletter, and opportunities to meet face to face with staff and governors as appropriate. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions please email office@morley.cambs.sch.uk or drop them into the office marked “Proposed Redevelopment and Improvement Works”.

Contribute to the planning process. The council has started the formal planning consultation and details of the plans will be available on the council’s website.

Help out. As ever, we will need the skills, talents and time of parents to make this a success. If you’re interested in getting involved and have skills that you think are particularly relevant, please email office@morley.cambs.sch.uk or drop them into the office marked “Proposed Redevelopment and Improvement Works”.

Donate. The Friends of Morley are leading our efforts to raise the funds for the investment in the outdoor space. It’s a great opportunity for you to make a real difference to the school now and for the future. If you want to know more about how to donate or how you can help raise funds please contact the Treasurer of the Friends of Morley, Helen Devlin on hec39@cam.ac.uk or drop a note into the school office marked Friends of Morley.